polyembryonyn.
/ˌpɒlɪˈɛmbrɪəni/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈɛmbriəni/ 1. Botany. The formation or presence of more than one embryo in a seed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > [noun] > parts of > embryo or radicle > formation of more than one
polyembryony1849
1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §509 Cases of polyembryony in Coniferæ, Cycadaceæ, Mistleto, Onion, &c.
1901 Bot. Gaz. 31 382 This probably is not to be regarded..as an ordinary case of polyembryony.
1956 Nature 28 Jan. 191/1 An examination of the seeds of different species of Cassia..has shown the occurrence of polyembryony to be geographically widespread.
1992 M. Ingrouille Diversity & Evol. Land Plants 122 In gymnosperms each of the several archegonia may be fertilized so that several embryos may arise in each ovule (polyembryony) though only one reaches maturity.
2. Zoology. The development of more than one embryo from a single egg.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > embryo or fetus > [noun] > formation of > genetic development
polyembryony1906
lyonization1963
1906 Science 21 Dec. 813/2 Polyembryony [in Encyrtus eggs] reaches its greatest intensity..when the young larvæ of the Hyponomeuta leave their winter shelter.
1925 A. D. Imms Gen. Textbk. Entomol. i. 154 Polyembryony is met with among insects in certain parasitic families of Hymenoptera.
1969 R. F. Chapman Insects xix. 377 The effect of polyembryony is to increase the reproductive potential of the insect.
2000 Amer. Midland Naturalist 144 139 Armadillos..are the only vertebrates that routinely exhibit monozygotic polyembryony or giving birth to genetically identical offspring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1849